Spring structure.



W. R. SMITH.

SPRING STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED sEPT.2, 1912.

W. R. SMITH.

SPRING STRUCTURE. APPLICATION FILED SEPLZS. 1912.

l l 50,? l 1 D Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

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R. SMITH, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

SFRING STRUCTURE.

Speciication of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

Original application led December 3Q, 1911, Serial No. 688,720. Divided and this application filed September 28,1912. seria1Np.722,s55.

T0 atl 107mm it may concern Be it known that I, Dirson SMrrH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, hayeinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring Structures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to spring structures.

One object is to provide a spring structure embodying` among other characteristics means whereby when the structure is upholstered there will be formed at the upper front edge ythereof a yroll with a minimum amount of hair and upholstering material and which will produce not only' an A attractive front but provide' soft pliable front edge in contradistinction to the usual stiff upper edge and common square facing effect.

Another object resides in the provision of a durable, eliicientand pliable 'spring' structure for car, automobile or other seats so formed that I,tends to throw tlie rider backward rather `than `oriwar-di`in the even't of a sudden jar to the vehicle."

Another object .to proyide a spring structure with an overhanging yieldable means atthe nont Atltierebf ,to proyide for ,a rounded projection at the nlpper portion of the upholstered article Vand also to pnoyide a structure withva` facing ksnppofrting bar at its front. i' i A' u A still Jfurther vobject resides ,the priovision of a spring structure whose frontrow 0f Springs is riltefabiy higher thm the rows of springs in the rear thereof and which has coperating .with .the frontroW of springs means to reinforcethe latter and also provide for the ready formation of 4a pliable roll edge across the front at the .top thereof with a minimum amount of hair and upholstering material.

It is still further designed to provide ,a spring strncture ,whose ,front row o fspr'ings at their upper ends are unconnected with one another to prcvide for fleiibility at the upper front edge of the structnre.

lith the above and Aother ,objects 4in fView the present invention oonsistsi'nthe combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter morefully described, illustrated the accompanying drawings and" particularly pointed outin the appended ,clairnait being understood that changes .be 4made in the form, proportion size iand minor details without departing from the scope or sacriicing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional View through the front row of springs. Fig. 3 1s a side view. Fig. 4 is a front view. Fig. 5 a Adetail perspective View of one form of clip for uniting the superimposed front row of springs together. v` A This is a divisional application Jfrom the one filed by me on Dec. '30', 1911, Serial No. 668,720, and in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the reference characters 10 and 11 iizidicate upper and lower frames, preferably in the form of what are known in the art as Fborder edge wires.

Secured to the lower edge wire by means offsuitable clips 12 are spring supporting wires 13 which may be of any form capable ot' supporting the springs thereon. The rear rows of springs `are indicated by the char"- acter 14 and the front lrow `of springs preferably consists of superimposed doublecone springs 15 and 1,6 which may be fastened together in any suitable manner, but preferby means yof vsuitable clips 17 having tongues 18 and 1 8 for engagement with the corresponding convolutions of the superimposed springs to `firmly secure them together. The springs 15 and 1 6 may be Isecured to the supporting wires 13 and to the lower frame 11' by means of suitable clips 19: Connected to the upper convolutions yof the springs 14, 1 5 and 16 are clips 20 having fingers 21 and which clips 2O also serve to connect the b order :springs of the set of `springs 14 to the upper edge wire, yas clearly shown.

'The upper ytrame 1Q Vis preferably inclined Apreferably terminates in the rear "of the front row of springs rather than extend across 5the front of the 4structure at the tops of the front row of springs, and by virtue of the Vfront row of springs being unconnected attheir tops .with the upper frame, there is permitted considerable pliability at the upper front portion of .the structure as compared with a structure whereinthe upper frame extends atits front along the front of the front row |of springs and secured thereto.

The character indicates a combined facing supporting bar and strengthening member which is preferably connected to the front row of springs by means of suitable clips 25. The ends of this bar extend around the front corner springs as indicated at 2.2, and preferably extend from their rearwardly directed portions 2,2 upwardly as at 23 to the upper frame 10, whereby the front facing supporting bar 24: may be connected not only to the front row of springs but also to the upper frame. `Whether the front facing supporting bar 21 be vformed separate from the upper frame or whether it be formed therewith, the front row of springs at their tops are not connected to the upper frame as has been stated. The upper frame is open at its front.

Yieldable bands 26 are adapted to extend in spaced relation from or near the rear of the structure to and over and beyond the front thereof. These yieldable bands are preferably connected to rows of alined springs. One means for connecting these bands to the springs is to rivet the bands to the aforesaid clips 20 which connect the upper convolutions of the springs 15 and 16. The forward ends of the bands extend beyond the front of the upper frame, as stated, with their projecting ends curved downwardly, as at 27, and directed inwardly, as at 28, with their inturned ends secured in any suitable manner to the aforesaid clips 17, as for instance, by riveting the inturned ends 28 to said clips 17 intermediate the ends of the latter by means of rivets 17 and, if desired, these same rivets 17 may be used to connect the lower convolutions of the springs 15 and 16 and the inturned ends 1S together, thereby dispensing with the fingers 18. By virtue of these rounded projections at the upper front edge of the structure, l give the structure a pleasing appearance when upholstered, and moreover, by forming the forward ends of said yieldable bands in the manner stated, I provide means whereby when the structure is upholstered there may be formed at the upper front edge thereof a pliable roll with a minimum amount of hair and upholstering material, with the pliable roll movable toward and away from the lower frame under the weight of the rider. This pliable roll at the upper front edge of the structure obviates the usual stiff upper edge and also the usual common square facing effect at the front of the structure.

The yieldable bands Q6 by virtue of their peculiar formation and connection with the spring structure tend to reinforce the front row of main springs in the event of unusual weight being brought to bear on the structure at the front thereof, without destroying the effect of the pliable roll at the upper front edge of the structure. For instance, when an automobile or other vehicle strikes an obstacle in the roadway the occupant of the seat is more or less jolted and, as the tendency of the jolt is to throw the occupant to the frontof the seat, l reinforce the front of the structure by the peculiar connection and arrangement of the yieldable bands with relation to the structure. These features, together with the fact that the rows of springs gradually decrease in height from front to rear, tend to keep the rider seated normally toward the rear of the structure.

lvVhat is claimed is:

1. In a spring structure, upper and lower frames, springs arranged between the frames, and yieldable means connected to the tops of the springs and extending over the front of the upper frame with their forward extremities engaging the under side of the upper frame at its front and connected to the front row of springs between the upper and lower ends thereof.

2.21 spring structure comprising upper and lower frames, springs arranged between the frames, the front portion of the upper frame being offset downwardly and extend-- ing along the front row of springs between the upper and lower ends thereof, and means for connecting the front row of springs intermediate their ends to the downwardly offset front portion of the upper frame whereby the upper ends of the front rowof springs are unattached at their upper ends to the upper frame and at their upper ends are free to move independently of the upper frame.

3. A. spring structure comprising upper and lower frames, springs arranged between the frames, the front portion of the upper frame being offset downwardly and extending along the front row of springs between the upper and lower ends thereof.y means for connecting the front row of springs to the downwardly offset front portion of the upper frame whereby the upper ends of the front row of springs are unattached to the upper kframe and at their upper ends are free to move independently of the upper frame and of each other, and yieldable bands connected to the tops of the springs and at one end extending over and beyond the front of theupper frame with their forward extremities connected to theV front row of springs intermediate the upper and lower ends of the latter.

4f. A spring structure comprising upper and lower frames, springs arranged between the frames, the upper frame including a de-v pending part which extends along thefront row of springs between the upper and lower ends of the latter and unconnected with the lower frame and clips for connecting the l front row of springs in contact with the part of the upper frame which extends along the front row of springs. y

5. A spring structure comprising upper and lower frames, the upper frame including upper and lower portions and springs arranged within the frames, the upper ends of the front row of springs being unconnected to the upper and lower portions of the upper frame and also being unconnected at their upper ends with each other whereby the front row of springs at their upper ends are unrestrained and free to move independently of the upper frame portions and of each other, and whereby the upper frame is open at the upper portion of its front.

6. A spring structure comprising upper and lower frames, springs arranged between the frames, the upper frame including a portion which extends along the front row of springs between the upper and lower ends of the latter, means for connecting the front row of springs to the portion thereof which extends along the front row of springs, and spaced yieldable bands connected to the tops of the springs and ait one end extending` over the front of the upper frame with their forward extremities connected to the front row of springs between the upper and lower ends of the latter and held in engagement with that portion of the upper frame which extends along the front row of springs.

7. A spring structure comprising upper and lower frames, the upper frame including a portion which extends along the front row of springs between the upper and lower ends of the latter and springs arranged between the frames,y the upper ends of the front row of springs being unconnected at their upper ends to the upper frame whereby at their upper ends they are unrestrained and free to move independently of the upper frame, and of each other, and yieldable means connected to the tops of the springs and extending over the front of `the upper frame and connected to the front row of springs between the upper and lower ends of the latter and also connected to that portion of the upper frame which extends along the front row of springs.

8. In a spring structure, upper and lower frames, springs arranged between the frames, the front portion of the upper frame being offset downwardly and extending along the front row of springs between the upper and lower ends thereof, yieldable bands connected to the tops of the springs and at one end extending over the front of the structure and having their forward extremities connected to said downwardly offset portion of the upper frame and to the front row of springs intermediate the ends of the latter.

9. A spring structure comprising upper and lower frames, springs arranged between the frames, the body of the upper frame terminating at the rear of the front row of springs, and means secured to the structure and overhanging the front vrow of springs to provide a rounded projection at the upper portion only thereof so as to provide for the formation of a pliable hollow upholstered roll at the upper front edge of the structure.

l0. A spring structure comprising upper and lower frames, the upper frame having an opening at its front, springs arranged between the frames, bands connected to the tops of the springs and extending beyond the front row of springs and having connection with the latter between the upper and lower frames.

l1. A spring structure comprising upper and lower frames, springs between the frames, and yieldable means overhanging the front of the structure to provide a rounded projection at the upper portion only thereof so as to provide for the formation of an upholstered pliable roll at the upper front edge of the structure, the upper frame being open at its front.

12. A spring structure comprising upper and lower frames, springs arranged between the frames, and yieldable means overhanging the front of the structure to provide a rounded projection at the upper portion only thereof so as to provide for the formation of an upholstered pliable roll at the upper front edge of the structure, the upper frame being open at its front and at its front being unconnected with the upper convolutions of the front rowA of springs.

13. A spring structure comprising upper anddower frames, springs mounted between the frames, the upper frame being open at its front, and front springs being unconnected to one another at their upper ends and also unconnected at their upper ends with the upper frame, a plurality of yieldable elements connected to the top of the structure and overhanging the structure and projecting beyond the frame and terminating above said lower frame and bent to form a plurality of outwardly extending rounded projections at the upper portion only of the structure, so as to provide a pronounced overhanging pliable hollow row adapted to be used with a minimum amount of upholstering material located at the upper edge only of the structure.

l` 14. A spring structure comprising upper and lower frames, springs arranged between the frames, the front portionof the upper frame being offset downwardly and connected to the front row of springs between the upper and lower ends thereof so as to prevent outward or inward spreading of the front row of springs intermediate their ends.

l5. A spring structure comprising upper and lower frames, springs between the frames, bands connected to the front of the structure and extending beyond the front row of springs to provide a rounded projection at the upper portion only thereof so as to provide for the formation of an upholstered pliable roll at the upper front edge of the structure, the upper frame being unconnected with the springs of the front row at the upper ends of the latter so as to render the upper portion of the structure open at its front.

16. A spring structure Comprising upper and lower frames, rows of springs arranged between the frames, and yieldable means overhanging the front of the structure to provide a rounded projection at the upper portion thereof so as to provide for the formation of an upholstered pliable roll at the upper front edge of the structure, the upper frame being unconnected with the upper ends of the springs of said front row so as to render the structure open at its front and so as to render the intermediate front springs at their upper ends movable independently of the upper frame and each other.

17. A spring structure comprising upper and lower frames, and rows of springs arranged between the frames, the upper frame at its front being offset and extending along the front of the structure and unconnected with the upper ends of the springs of the front row whereby the upper ends lof the front row of springs have movement at their upper ends independently of the upper frame and of each other.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WATSON R. SMITH.

Witnesses:

ETHEL M. PHELAN. JEANNETTE P. WENGER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

